Booth notebook

Session notes from the booth.

The lineup logic, the song notes, and the things I want you to hear, saved one session at a time.

Stored notes
120
Artists
18
Genres
18
Special turns
5
3 saved turns
Lineup logic first. Song notes right behind it.
Subtle lift / after hours electricityPlaylist noteApr 21, 202611:44 PM

Honky Tonk is setting the after-hours temperature on the dial.

Honky Tonk by Miles Davis off The Columbia Years 1955-1985 (Disc 4) (1988) is coming through with a steady shoulder-roll, a subtle lift / after-hours electricity lean, and a touch of after-hours electricity. There She Goes Again is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
Honky Tonk
Miles Davis
The Columbia Years 1955-1985 (Disc 4) · 1988 · Jazz
Lineup note
Honky Tonk into There She Goes Again

Honky Tonk by Miles Davis off The Columbia Years 1955-1985 (Disc 4) (1988) belongs here because keeps the emotional pressure steady after Loaded CD4 by Velvet Underground and changes the palette without cutting the thread. R.E.M. is one of Ian's steadier shelf presences, so the pick already reads like a real hand.. There She Goes Again is waiting as the answer, so this record is doing more than setting a mood; it is shaping the turn.

Track context
The Columbia Years 1955-1985 (Disc 4) · 1988

Honky Tonk comes through with a steady shoulder-roll and jazz around the edges, giving the sequence a 1980s depth instead of a quick disposable hit. The crowd response around Me And Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul suggests listeners are leaning toward texture and detail, not just impact.

Listen for
What to catch in the room

Listen for how There She Goes Again answers the color and pressure of the current record instead of simply matching its tempo. The real hook is in how the jazz grain keeps glowing even as the transition opens up.

Miles DavisR.E.M.Counting CrowsJazzRockAlternative Rocksubtle lift / after-hours electricityafter-hoursafter-hours electricityJazz
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
Honky Tonk
Miles Davis
Why it fits

Honky Tonk by Miles Davis lands here because keeps the emotional pressure steady after Loaded CD4 by Velvet Underground and changes the palette without cutting the thread. R.E.M. is one of Ian's steadier shelf presences, so the pick already reads like a real hand.. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. There She Goes Again can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

Track context

On The Columbia Years 1955-1985 (Disc 4) (1988), Honky Tonk shows Miles Davis working in a 1980s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the jazz texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for There She Goes Again to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

02next
There She Goes Again
R.E.M.
Why it fits

There She Goes Again answers Honky Tonk by Miles Davis with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Raining in Baltimore can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

Track context

On Dead Letter Office (1987), There She Goes Again shows R.E.M. working in a 1980s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Honky Tonk without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Raining in Baltimore to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

03later
Raining in Baltimore
Counting Crows
Why it fits

Raining in Baltimore answers There She Goes Again by R.E.M. with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The alternative rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

Track context

On August and Everything After (1993), Raining in Baltimore shows Counting Crows working in a 1990s pocket with alternative rock in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the alternative rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers There She Goes Again without borrowing the same emotional weight.

Open saved booth copy

Mr Rassy is lining up There She Goes Again by R.E.M. off Dead Letter Office (1987). It hit in 1987, it comes off Dead Letter Office, Rock on the edges. The transition feels clean and alive. keeps the emotional pressure steady after Loaded CD4 by Velvet Underground and changes the palette without cutting the thread. R.E.M. is one of Ian's steadier shelf presences, so the pick already reads like a real hand.

Forward motion / crisp chargePlaylist noteApr 21, 20261:21 PM

Memory is setting the midday temperature on the dial.

Memory by Barry Manilow off Here Comes the Night (1982) is coming through with a steady shoulder-roll, a forward motion / crisp charge lean, and a touch of crisp charge. Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
Memory
Barry Manilow
Here Comes the Night · 1982 · Pop, Rock
Lineup note
Memory into Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges

Memory by Barry Manilow off Here Comes the Night (1982) belongs here because Keeps the emotional pressure steady after Cortez the Killer by Neil Young & Crazy Horse and turns the color from 1970s into 2010s. Miles Davis is one of Ian's steadier shelf presences, so the pick already reads like a real hand.. Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges is waiting as the answer, so this record is doing more than setting a mood; it is shaping the turn.

Track context
Here Comes the Night · 1982

Memory comes through with a steady shoulder-roll and pop, rock around the edges, giving the sequence a 1980s depth instead of a quick disposable hit. The crowd response around Me And Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul suggests listeners are leaning toward texture and detail, not just impact.

Listen for
What to catch in the room

Listen for how Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges answers the color and pressure of the current record instead of simply matching its tempo. The real hook is in how the pop, rock grain keeps glowing even as the transition opens up.

Barry ManilowSatieMiles DavisPop, RockClassicalJazzforward motion / crisp chargemiddaycrisp chargePop, Rock
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
Memory
Barry Manilow
Why it fits

Memory by Barry Manilow lands here because Keeps the emotional pressure steady after Cortez the Killer by Neil Young & Crazy Horse and turns the color from 1970s into 2010s. Miles Davis is one of Ian's steadier shelf presences, so the pick already reads like a real hand.. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

Track context

On Here Comes the Night (1982), Memory shows Barry Manilow working in a 1980s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

02next
Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges
Satie
Why it fits

Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges answers Memory by Barry Manilow with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The classical edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Dialogue: 'It takes a long time...' can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

Track context

On Complete Piano Works, Volume 1 (1994), Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges shows Satie working in a 1990s pocket with classical in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the classical texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Memory without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Dialogue: 'It takes a long time...' to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

03later
Dialogue: 'It takes a long time...'
Miles Davis
Why it fits

Dialogue: 'It takes a long time...' answers Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges by Satie with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

Track context

On Miles Ahead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2016), Dialogue: 'It takes a long time...' shows Miles Davis working in a 2010s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the jazz texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges without borrowing the same emotional weight.

Open saved booth copy

Mr Rassy is lining up Quatre Ogives: I. Les Anges by Satie off Complete Piano Works, Volume 1 (1994). It hit in 1994, it comes off Complete Piano Works, Volume 1, Classical on the edges. The transition feels clean and alive. Keeps the emotional pressure steady after Cortez the Killer by Neil Young & Crazy Horse and turns the color from 1970s into 2010s. Miles Davis is one of Ian's steadier shelf presences, so the pick already reads like a real hand.

Tender voltage / morning motionPlaylist noteApr 21, 20268:30 AM

Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) is setting the daybreak temperature on the dial.

Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) by Talking Heads off Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) (1980) is coming through with a steady shoulder-roll, a tender voltage / morning motion lean, and a touch of morning motion. Nefertiti is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake)
Talking Heads
Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) · 1980 · Rock
Lineup note
Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) into Nefertiti

Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) by Talking Heads off Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) (1980) belongs here because Stevie Nicks' 'All The Beautiful Worlds (Unreleased Version)' and Miles Davis' 'Nefertiti' provide a gentle yet impactful contrast to the previous tracks, maintaining the tender voltage mood while offering something new.. Nefertiti is waiting as the answer, so this record is doing more than setting a mood; it is shaping the turn.

Track context
Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) · 1980

Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) comes through with a steady shoulder-roll and rock around the edges, giving the sequence a 1980s depth instead of a quick disposable hit. The crowd response around Me And Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul suggests listeners are leaning toward texture and detail, not just impact.

Listen for
What to catch in the room

Listen for how Nefertiti answers the color and pressure of the current record instead of simply matching its tempo. The real hook is in how the rock grain keeps glowing even as the transition opens up.

Talking HeadsMiles DavisStevie NicksRockJazztender voltage / morning motiondaybreakmorning motionRock
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake)
Talking Heads
Why it fits

Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) by Talking Heads lands here because Stevie Nicks' 'All The Beautiful Worlds (Unreleased Version)' and Miles Davis' 'Nefertiti' provide a gentle yet impactful contrast to the previous tracks, maintaining the tender voltage mood while offering something new.. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Nefertiti can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

Track context

On Remain in Light (Deluxe Version) (1980), Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) shows Talking Heads working in a 1980s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Nefertiti to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

02next
Nefertiti
Miles Davis
Why it fits

Nefertiti answers Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) by Talking Heads with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. All The Beautiful Worlds (Unreleased Version) can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

Track context

On Miles Ahead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2016), Nefertiti shows Miles Davis working in a 2010s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the jazz texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake) without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for All The Beautiful Worlds (Unreleased Version) to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

03later
All The Beautiful Worlds (Unreleased Version)
Stevie Nicks
Why it fits

All The Beautiful Worlds (Unreleased Version) answers Nefertiti by Miles Davis with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

Track context

On The Wild Heart (Deluxe Edition) (2016), All The Beautiful Worlds (Unreleased Version) shows Stevie Nicks working in a 2010s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Nefertiti without borrowing the same emotional weight.

Open saved booth copy

Mr Rassy is lining up Nefertiti by Miles Davis off Miles Ahead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2016). It hit in 2016, it comes off Miles Ahead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Jazz on the edges. The transition feels clean and alive. Stevie Nicks' 'All The Beautiful Worlds (Unreleased Version)' and Miles Davis' 'Nefertiti' provide a gentle yet impactful contrast to the previous tracks, maintaining the tender voltage mood while offering something new.